On NIDA's webpage for Opioid Summaries by State, users can find opioid-related overdose death rates and opioid prescribing levels for each state in the U.S., along with state-specific resources. Each state page also includes data on comorbidities such as HIV, hepatitis C, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Users can also search for NIH-funded projects related to opioid use and opioid use disorder.

TOMORROW (Feb. 28, 12:00-1:00pm): The 2nd in a series of monthly webinars from ADAI's Northwest Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NWATTC) will feature psychologist Michelle Peavy, who will examine patient-centered care in an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) setting. Find out about future NWATTC webinars

ADAI Principal Research Scientist Caleb Banta-Green appeared on the KBTC TV program Northwest Now on Feb. 16, to talk about the epidemic of opioid use and overdose, and what can be done to stop the alarming addiction and death rate related to these drugs. WATCH NOW

Dennis Donovan, ADAI Director, was interviewed by KING TV about the comparative risks of marijuana and heroin, and the fear that legalization will lead to increased use of marijuana. WATCH NOW

Beyond Brownies and Joints: Product Development and Advertising in the Legal Era was the topic of a webinar by ADAI Senior Research Scientist Bia Carlini, for the Washington Association of Prevention Coalitions and Prevention WINS. VIEW on YouTube

Local medication take-back laws in Washington are working to help address the opioid crisis and prevent poisonings, suicides, and overdoses. In Washington State, King and Snohomish Counties have implemented successful programs, and efforts are being made to expand the programs statewide.

The pharmaceutical industry is providing a DEA-compliant drug take-back program for safe collection and disposal of household medicines in several counties, with convenient medicine drop boxes in drug stores, grocery stores, medical centers, and police stations.

WATCH: this video from the Association of Washington Cities.

(In the interest of full disclosure, Brenda Stuvek from ADAI volunteered to help with the video, demonstrating the take-back boxes -- she's the one in the purple sweater! Thanks, Brenda, for helping to bring attention to this public health effort!)

A conservative estimate puts the number of people who inject illicit drugs (PWID) in Washington State at more than 33,000. A survey conducted by the UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute at 18 syringe exchanges programs, representing approximately 80% of syringes exchanged annually in the state, profiles the health behaviors and health care needs and preferences of injection drug users in Washington. The survey found that:

Methamphetamine use among people who inject drugs appears to be increasing. Eighty-two percent (82%) reported using methamphetamine in the last three months compared to 69% in 2015.

About half of people who used methamphetamine as their main drug were interested in reducing or stopping their stimulant use (47%).

Most people who used heroin as their main drug were interested in reducing or stopping their opioid use (78%).

The proportion of people who used opioids who had a naloxone kit more than doubled from 24% in 2015 to 59% in 2017 among those outside of King County; the increase was from 47% to 66% in King County.

Syringe exchange participants have a wide and complex range of health concerns beyond substance use and face multiple hurdles and stigma when accessing health care.

SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach for early identification and intervention with patients whose patterns of alcohol and/or drug use put their health at risk.

The course is in six-modules: 1) SBIRT Overview, 2) Screening Patients for Unhealthy Substance Use, 3) Delivering a Brief Intervention, 4) Brief Interventions to Address Drug Use, 5) Refining Your Brief Interventions, and 6) Referral to Treatment. You can pause when you want to and go back to complete the course later.

The training was prepared by the Northwest ATTC, Washington State Department of Health, and the UW Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute under a contract from the DSHS/Dept. of Behavioral Health & Recovery (DBHR). Physicians, physician assistants, primary care ARNPs, psychologists, and other healthcare providers who complete the training may be eligible for CME or CEUs in addition to certification from the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA).

Also of interest: Opioid Trends in Pierce County. Caleb Banta-Green and Williams JR, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, February 2017.

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will hold a two-day summit June on the opioid epidemic, convening law enforcement, medical professionals, prosecutors and public health experts.

“Opioids are devastating Washington families and communities, and overwhelming our safety nets,” Ferguson said. “This summit will bring together key stakeholders to identify next steps and solutions to this epidemic.”

When: June 15 (8:00am - 5:00pm) and June 16 (8:30am - 12:00pm) Where: UW Kane Hall (6/15) and UW Husky Union Building (6/16) Registration: This summit is free and open to the public, with registration. Register online. Who should attend? State, tribal, local and federal law enforcement and prosecutors’ offices, community leaders, and policymakers.

Speakers: Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste, King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and State Health Officer Dr. Kathy Lofy. Multiple sessions will share best practices from around the country, from drug monitoring to health care fraud field operations.

The Attorney General’s Office planned the summit in partnership with the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. On October 7, 2016, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order requesting that the AGO, along with law enforcement and community partners, develop and recommend strategies to reduce the supply of illegal opioids in Washington state.

In 2015, 718 Washingtonians died from opioid overdose, more than from car accidents. The majority of drug overdose deaths — more than six out of ten — involve an opioid.

The opioid epidemic has impacted Washington unlike any other state in the region. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington is the only Western state to see a statistically significant increase in drug overdose death rates between 2014 and 2015.

For more information on the upcoming opioid summit, please contact Kelly Richburg at kellyr1@atg.wa.gov.

Use the light blue toolbar across the top of each page to view data by geography, by drug, or by source.

Click on variables to enable/disable them in the charts (for example, you can hide substances you aren't interested in seeing the data for), and hover your mouse over lines or data points to learn more about them.

Charts can be downloaded to use in handouts or presentations, or present the interactive data right from the website.

Mobile-friendly and loaded with great information -- this new resource will be regularly updated with current data. For help using this new resource, contact Jason Williams, anjrw@uw.edu

The ADAI Center for Opioid Safety Education is seeking a Nurse Consultant to work in collaborative project between ADAI and the WA State Dept of Health. This is a DOH staff position funded by a CDC grant to serve as a DOH clinical subject matter expert on opioid prescribing guidelines, opioid use disorder, evidence based preventions/interventions and treatments.

The position reports directly to a WMS 2 manager in DOH's Office of Community Health Systems in Tumwater but will be placed at, and work out of, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute at the UW. Regular intra-state travel will be required. Duties include:

Provides technical assistance and clinical consulting services to health care providers and WA State communities about managing opioid prescribing and opioid use disorders.

Develops strategies in conjunction with DOH and University of WA based on emerging data.

Collaborates and communicates with a broad spectrum of public health constituents and participants including federal, state and local public health officials, government officials, private individuals, physicians, nurses and other health professionals regarding opioid use disorder and related issues.

Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree or higher in Nursing is required. Other requirements include 1) Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) in the state of Washington OR eligible to obtain licensure within 6 months of hire date. 2) Five (5) or more years (full-time equivalency) of public health nursing experience. 3) Demonstrated experience designing and implementing training.